Stories and photos about people, places and events from Michigan's past

Michigan History

By Vivian M. Baulch / Special to The Detroit News In 1910, only 5,741 of Detroit’s 280,000 population were black. Among them was physician James W. Ames, a graduate of both Straight University and Howard University, who had taught in New Orleans and arrived in Detroit in 1894. He quickly assumed a leadership role within … Continue Reading →

By Vivian M. Baulch and Patricia Zacharias / The Detroit News In the 1920s the uncharted Arctic Region was one of the last unexplored areas of the world, an irresistable lure to explorers and adventurers. To Australian explorer and aviator George Hubert Wilkins, the call was so great he proposed an air expedition to the … Continue Reading →

By Joe Falls / The Detroit News The Detroit Red Wings weren’t the Detroit Red Wings when the team was formed in 1926. They didn’t even play in Detroit. They were known as the Detroit Cougars, but they had to play across the river in Windsor, Ontario, because Olympia Stadium in Detroit had … Continue Reading →

By Patricia Zacharias / The Detroit News Long before the advent of mega theme parks, amusement areas like Electric Park and Edgewater Park were generally raucous gatherings of roller coasters, fun houses and other concessions. Although Coney Island set the standard, the Detroit shoreline was not far behind as a destination for immigrants hungry … Continue Reading →